June 2023 - eNews

Dyersville Recognized as River Town of the Year

On May 30th we spent the entire day celebrating the City of Dyersville and all their good work towards water quality projects. We started the day with a tour of the projects courtesy of Impact 7G, then a ceremony and luncheon, followed by a ribbon cutting and float on the North Fork of the Maquoketa. The evening concluded at Textile Brewery with a social hour. Dyersville was nominated for this award and it was presented by Iowa Rivers Revival Read about the city's efforts toward water quality and hear clips from the day HERE!! 

Water Sampling Season is upon us!

Our Steadfast Volunteer Monitors have conducted 2 of the 3 days of sampling already.

Stay tuned for more updates and what the results show in a presentation later this year.

June 3 - It was a beautiful day on the Maquoketa River! There were local vendors, food- trucks, kayaking at the Manchester Whitewater Park and many more activities. .The MR WMA watershed coordinator had her assistants helping explain what is a watershed to those that stopped by! (when they were not cooling off in the river with Dad!) Thank you to Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce for organizing the three days of events!

Upcoming Events

This is geared toward women in agriculture but open to everyone!

We will see you there...

The MR WMA will be there and we are looking forward to seeing you!

Make new memories this summer!

From the DNR

Make plans this summer to explore nature, get some fresh air, and make new memories. From forests, state and local parks, rivers and wildlife areas, there are so many great places in Iowa to spend time in nature by yourself or with family and friends.

Try one or more of these simple activities to start your outdoor adventure, whether it’s your first time or it has been a while.

Hike a Local Trail - Local and state parks have easy to navigate trails that provide quick access to scenic areas close by or in our own neighborhood. Find a list of trails maintained in Iowa State Parks on the DNR webpage.

Camp in a Tent - Sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and sleeping under the stars is an experience you will always remember. Buy your firewood from where you will burn it instead of bringing it from home to help stop the spread of invasive insects like emerald ash borer that live in firewood.

Paddle Your Favorite Lake or Pond - Explore all the nooks and crannies of your favorite lake or pond in a kayak or a canoe. If you don’t have a kayak or canoe, many state and local parks have rentals available. Earn points to redeem for prizes with the Hook n' Paddle Passport.

Cook on a Campfire - Meals around the campfire are often the most cherished memories. Nothing quite compares with the sound of crackling wood and the aroma of dinner in the works. Find recipes on the DNR's Dutch Oven Recipes webpage.

USDA Reminds Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports by July 17, Use New Online Map Features on Farmers.gov

06/21/2023 02:00 PM EDT

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2023 - Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) office before the applicable deadline, which for many places and crops is July 17. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) also reminds producers with login access to farmers.gov of several features that can help expedite acreage reporting, such as the ability to view, print and label maps. 

Funding Available for Cover Crops and Management Practices

Farmers and landowners are encouraged to sign up for water quality and soil conservation cost share funding now. Funds are available through the state’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI). These funds assist farmers with adopting proven practices, including planting cover crops, transitioning acres to no-till/strip-till or applying a nitrogen inhibitor.

Farmers who are planting cover crops for the first time are eligible for $25 per acre through the cost share fund. Farmers who have already experienced the benefits of using cover crops and are continuing the practice can receive $15 per acre. Producers transitioning acres to no-till or strip-till are eligible for $10 per acre. New users can also receive $3 per acre for utilizing a nitrogen inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer.

Cost share funding through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is limited to 160 acres per farmer or landowner. The funds will be available in July, but farmers should start submitting applications now to their local Soil and Water Conservation District. Farmers are encouraged to visit with their Soil and Water Conservation District staff to inquire about additional cost share funds available through other programs.

Iowa farmers continue to be leaders in conservation. Last fall, over 3,900 farmers and landowners enrolled in this cost share program. More than 430,000 acres of cover crops, 14,200 acres of no-till/strip-till and 5,800 acres of nitrification inhibitors were enrolled in the program in 2022. An estimated $14.5 million of private funding was invested to match the $7.5 million contributed by the State. 

Local numbers and contacts for the Maquoketa River Watershed SWCDs

Jones County SWCD-Sonya Ellison at 319-462-3196 Ext. 3

Delaware County SWCD- Sarah Kelchen 563-927-4250

Jackson County SWCD- Jane Butt (563) 652-2337

Dubuque County SWCD-Colleen Siefken (563) 876-3418

Fayette County SWCD- Lori Kohlmeyer (563) 422-3868

Clayton County SWCD-Gina Parker (563) 245-1048

Buchanan County SWCD- Julie Althaus (563) 245-1048

Clinton County SWCD- Megan Burke (563) 659-3456

Linn County SWCD- Brenda Palas- 319) 377-5960

A note from Limestone Bluffs RC&D:

Stephanie Sagers, Executive Director- email: ssagers@limestonebluffsrcd.org, office: 563.221.1930

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. For over 80 years, we’ve helped America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners conserve our nation’s resources through our voluntary programs and science-based solutions.

Anyone interested please reach out to Stephanie at

ssagers@limestonebluffsrcd.org or 563.221.1930



Read more about RCPP HERE

See past newsletters and meeting minutes on our website at maquoketariverwma.org. Support the Maquoketa River WMA by scanning the QR code below